A Historical,Detailed Toolmark Examination from 1916

Marc Bischoff received his PhD from the University of Lausanne, Institute of Police Science and Criminology, and later became the head of the Institute. His final examination paper for his doctorate degree constitutes a toolmark analysis and comparison between a suspected axe and questioned cuttings of wood trunks. Bischoff uses the scientific method to test the hypothesis he formulated. Dated 1916, this report includes his notes, measurements, photomicrographs of the questioned toolmarks and the test impressions, detailed sketches, technical discussion, results, and conclusions. Recognizing the historical value of Bischoff's work, it seemed important to get it translated. Photocopies of Bischoff's original work were obtained. The case report, translated from French, is presented here along with a brief history of the Firearm and Toolmark Identification field and Bischoff's role in the beginning of this field. Bischoff's work stands as testimony to the long tradition of the field of forensic toolmark analysis.     

Explosion Scene Forensic Image Interpretation

Image interpretation is an important aspect in the field of forensic science; however, it is seldom reported how to use these techniques in explosion scene forensic investigations. On 12 August 2015, a series of explosions killed 165 people and injured hundreds more at a container storage station at the Port of Tianjin. In this study, we applied image interpretation methods to determine the seat of the explosion by analyzing low‐quality video clips of the event. The interpretation fits well with recently published standard operating procedures, including the hypothesis, evaluation, inference, and confirmation. Image processing was adopted to enhance the images while the explosion scene was reconstructed with the same images. Some important features were extracted and utilized to distinguish whether the flashes were caused by reflection or a real blast. We reveal the real explosion location, which guides the overall investigation. The results indicate that image interpretation is a powerful tool for forensic investigators to analyze low‐quality images in complicated explosions or fire accidents.     

Crime-Reduction Effects of Open-street CCTV: Conditionality Considerations

This study addresses the conditional nature of the effectiveness of open-street CCTV (closed circuit television) by examining the differences in the effects (1) between daytime and nighttime crime, (2) between weekday and weekend crime, (3) across specific-crime offenses, and (4) depending on CCTV site characteristics, including location type (e.g. downtown, business district, school/university, or residential area) and the site’s base rate of crime. This study used HLM (hierarchical linear modeling) with 84 repeated measures across 34 camera locations in Cincinnati, Ohio, while also accounting for overlapping camera areas. Overall, the findings provided minimal evidence of the effectiveness of CCTV in reducing crime, though some types of crime were reduced in residential areas especially, and effectiveness was clearly interdependent with an area’s base rate of crime. Finally, WDQ analyses showed that diffusion of benefits occurred much more often than displacement in cases where there was a crime reduction, post-CCTV.     

犯罪构成模型论

犯罪构成是立法者依据一定的利益需求与价值观念而将生活中之危害行为加以类型化形成的 ,表现为通过刑法规范所确认的认定犯罪之规格、标准或最低度条件———本文称之为模型。它同构成犯罪的事实 (原型 )是不同层面之范畴。注释刑法学应以刑法条文中静态存在的模型意义上的犯罪与刑罚为研究对象。同两大法系的构成体系相比较 ,在现阶段国情下我国几十年所形成的通说体系具有直观、简单、易操作的特点 ,并无重新构造之当务必要。     

法治语境下我国秘密侦查制度的现实困境和出路

秘密侦查作为一种打击追诉犯罪的特殊侦查手段,在现代各国侦查实践中被普遍应用。我国立法对秘密侦查缺乏明确而详尽的规定,这与国外的立法规定相差甚远,也不符合建设法治国家对人权保障的要求。在依法治国、建设社会主义法治国家的语境下,基于程序正义理念的要求,亟需实现我国秘密侦查的法治化,以限制公权力对私权利的侵犯,确保在惩治犯罪和保障人权之间达到必要的平衡。     

中国居民个人收入流动性的城乡比较

本文利用了中国健康和营养调查的面板数据,采用普通最小二乘法与分位数回归等计量方法定量分析比较了1989至2006年间短期(2-4年)和长期(8-9年)的个人收入流动性的城乡差异。无论是短期还是长期,农村和城市在个人收入流动的模式上没有显著差别。与农村相比,城市的流动水平要低一些。其中的原因是城市高收入端的流动水平非常低,最近(2004至2006年)甚至出现了富者愈富、穷者愈穷的流动模式。这是十分需要我们警惕的。     

A Statistical Validation of the Individuality and Repeatability of Striated Tool Marks: Screwdrivers and Tongue and Groove Pliers*

Abstract: Tool mark identification relies on the premise that microscopic imperfections on a tool’s working surface are sufficiently unique and faithfully transferred to enable a one‐to‐one association between a tool and the tool marks it creates. This paper presents a study undertaken to assess the validity of this premise. As part of this study sets of striated tool marks were created under different conditions and on different media. The topography of these tool marks was acquired and the degree of similarity between them was quantified using well‐defined metrics. An analysis of the resulting matching and nonmatching similarity distributions shows nearly error‐free identification under most conditions. These results provide substantial support for the validity of the premise of tool mark identification. Because the approach taken in this study relies on a quantifiable similarity metric, the results have greater repeatability and objectivity than those obtained using less precise measures of similarity.     

Comparing civil law and common law systems for mergers and acquisitions An economic analysis

＂From the economic point of view, common law is more efficient than civil law.＂ Is this recent statement published in an economic report valid for mergers and acquisitions （M＆A）？ The main objective of this paper is to compare the legal performance of M＆A in France and in the United States. The purpose is to quantify the impact of both legal systems on the long-term performance of M＆A transactions. To carry out this research, a specific methodology was developed and the results of which are evaluated. Two legal structures for M＆A transactions were retained： the purchase of shares （share deal）, and the purchase of assets （asset deal）. Each of these acquisition structures was then subdivided into eleven steps composing the process, for example from preliminary information, letter of intent, due diligence, stock or asset purchase agreement, closing, to litigation with formal summons. Performance was then measured by taking into account time, cost, and satisfaction factors. The time factor was broken down into person-days and the number of days, weeks, or months required to complete each step. French and U.S. respondents were asked to fill out a questionnaire with reference to a specific acquisition project. A typical question was for instance： What is your estimate of working days to complete this step （person-days）？ Radar charts were used to compare the mean of each performance factor. In order to check for correlations among the performance factors, an inter-factors analysis （regression） was carried out. The research findings are presented in this paper. Results show that a share deal in France is generally cheaper and participants indicate a significantly greater amount of satisfaction than in the U.S. However, for the time factor, the results vary. The conclusion is that the application of the civil code rather than common law does not reveal substantial differences as far as M＆A transactions are concerned. One reason is that in both France and the U.S. these transactions are carried out following standard procedures in compliance with common contractual practices.     

法系不同 本质相同——对司法会计与法务会计的认识

我们不能简单总结司法会计与法务会计的区别,应将其放在特定的法律环境中进行分析。司法会计与法务会计最根本的区别在于法律渊源即法系基础不同,但其本质相同,都是同一种技术学科在不同法律体系下的不同实现与发展;目标相同,都是为法庭提供财务会计方面的证据;理论依据相同,采用的也都是基本相同的技术方法。     

Questions,propositions and assessing different levels of evidence: Forensic voice comparison in practice

This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion about the distinction between observations and propositions in forensic inference, with a specific focus on forensic voice comparison casework conducted in the UK. We outline both linguistic and legal issues which make the evaluation of voice evidence and the refinement of propositions problematic in practice, and illustrate these using case examples. We will argue that group-level observations from the offender sample will always be evidential and that the value of this evidence must be determined by the expert. As such, a proposal is made that experts should, at least conceptually, think of voice evidence as having two levels, both with evidential value: group-level and individual-level. The two rely on different underlying assumptions, and the group-level observations can be used to inform the individual-level propositions. However, for the sake of interpretability, it is probably preferable to present only one combined conclusion to the end user. We also wish to reiterate points made in previous work: in providing conclusions, the forensic expert must acknowledge that the value of the evidence is dependent on a number of assumptions (propositions and background information) and these assumptions must be made clear and explicit to the user.